Pods Development
05 June 2010 by Paul Rhoades
Following on from an update in this evening's ST, thought I'd have my pennyworth on the Pods.
Now for those of you who are not familiar with Scunthorpe, when I'm talking about the "Pods", I'm referring to a new leisure development with a dome like structure under way in Scunthorpe. However, through one of those some what ironical twists that could only ever happen in the planning department at Scunthorpe it would appear that our new leisure development has been named after what is street slang for cannabis!
Moving swiftly on from the poor choice of name for this development I must say that in all other aspects the project is looking very promising.
Due to open in 2011 the Pods are now taking shape and all the groundwork outside and around the park is starting too look more like the artists impressions on the large boards surrounding the site.
The development consists of two clear areas, both being developed simultaneously in two areas close by.
The Pods will consist of:
- 25 Meter Pool, with a smaller pool located next to it
- 6 Sports halls for the likes of indoor soccer, basket ball etc
- Gym
- Dance Studio
- Cafe
- Cr�che
In addition to the development of the pods, the park its self is also being refurbished which will include renovating the existing fountain which has been a central feature of the park since its layout in 1955. I must say that personally I hope the original fountain is maintained as its very much a part of the character of Scunthorpe from a time of growth and prosperity, and as such it would be a real shame to see it go.
However, work in the park is well under way, its a bit messy at the moment and I have to take the dog through the car park mid way through the walk, but can't complain as it does look like some real though's gone in to this.
I remember suggesting a Beach Volleyball court at the public consultation which received rapturous support from several of my friends and work colleagues at the time, but seems (sadly) not to have made it through the council's ardent vetting process.
Plans for the park do however include
- Amphitheatre (we might be able to fill it with sand for volley ball?)
- Pavilion
- new path / boulevard for me to walk the dog on
- Play area
- Refurbished Fountain
The funding for this project has been sourced not just locally from North Lincolnshire Council, but also from the National Lottery and Sports Foundations.
Fountain to be refurbished:
Building work under way:
Saffie reads the plans - clever dog!
The Pods rise over Scunthorpe
Click any of the above for a larger view
Building work under way:
Saffie reads the plans - clever dog!
The Pods rise over Scunthorpe
Click any of the above for a larger view
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Comments
Although I welcome the idea of more leisure facilities in the area I can remember how we all enthralled about the opening of the Leisure centre with all its amenities, the Pool OK not a formal one but a good family one, a cafe serving proper food, a bar and various fitness and squash courts.
We as a family used to go regularly for a swim with kids from the age of 6 months in the shallows with the waves going, then as they got older deeper into the pool, followed by a meal in the cafe to round the day off.
Then came the cuts, first to go was the cafe, to be replaced by vending machines churning out unhealthy chocolate and crisps, next was the staffing levels so the the pool side facilities were reduced, not enough staff to run the waves or the flumes especially after office hours, had a friend go for a swim with his 2 under 8 year old daughters, he was told that only 1 could swim because there were not enough staff to allow the both to swim safely without 2 parents being present, come during office hours and not a problem except unless you work for living and cant come in them hours, seems we (NLC) think more of the doley's than we do of the rate payers, the people that actually pay for it.
Then the Bar was shut, then it just went into a downward spiral in the opinion of the local population, what went from a excellent centre where you could have beach parties and take your kids from what ever age has turned into a place that unless your claiming benefits you get nothing.
I wonder how after opening will the Pods start cutting back on service, because in the strange accountant run world of leisure provision if a centre is closed all day that is fine if it opens a squash or badminton court for half a day then that day then goes down as loosing money for 4 hours not actually proving a service it was built for, I speak from experience when trying to get sports halls opened to play Roller Hockey and that was the reason given.
As for fans64 comment about 50M pools the same argument happened with Riddings and Briggs pool and it was tried for the leisure centre but it was never intended to be an Olympic pool.
We will have to wait until 2012 to see what gets left open in the Pods.
Oh and whilst were on Leisure facilities, as the centre was phase 2 (the indoor bowling 1) when is 3 getting built? the Ice rink on the land between the 2.
In answer to my own question it seems that the leisure centre will be demolished (a popular theme in NLC) and redeveloped by a national supermarket chain so the 3rd phase is a deffo non starter.
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